He was almost blown off course but Gary Orr stayed the course to claim his maiden victory in the over-50s ranks at the Scottish Senior Open.

The fearsome gusts which swept over the exposed Craigielaw links could have led to the event being sponsored by the Beaufort Scale. Orr’s hefty sigh of relief when he trundled in a knee-knocking eight-footer for a birdie on the last to win by a single shot probably added a few more mph to the wind speed.

A five-over 76 to close was hardly a rousing sprint to the line but this was an attritional day for damage limitation and hanging on grimly and when you’re toasting a long overdue victory, it doesn’t matter how you get the cork out of the bottle.

Thirty years after turning pro, and 18 years since the last of his two victories on the main European Tour in 2000, Orr is a winner again in this latest chapter of his career among the golden oldies.

“Bloody hell, that was hard going,” he gasped after pipping the spirited Paul Streeter to the £37,500 first prize with a four-under 209. “It’s hard enough trying to win but even harder in those conditions.

“This has been a long time coming. It’s different to those wins on the European Tour but almost as satisfying as you’re playing against some of the boys you used to compete against back then.”

Orr led by three overnight and when you’re out in front, you just want to get cracking. A five minute delay to the final group’s tee-time as they waited on the green to clear at the driveable first probably didn’t help the general nervous tension. Orr plonked his tee-shot into the bunker and then watched his dunt out of the sand take a nasty kick and trundle off the back of the putting surface. An early bogey did little to settle the stomach.

It was going to be one of those days.

Ahead of the final three-ball, Phillip Price, the former Ryder Cup player, showed what could be achieved as he mounted a hearty late surge.

Birdies at 13 and 14, an eagle on the 15th and another birdie on the 16th gave him a fighting 68 and hoisted him on to a level-par aggregate. Given how things were going at the head of affairs, Price and the others who made it back to the safety of the clubhouse on that tally probably felt they still had a chance.

By the time he reached the turn, Orr had opened up a five stroke lead but, in the conditions, that was still as brittle as an ancient clump of parchment. A costly excursion into a bush on the 12th led to the wheels shoogling. “That was a double-bogey and it knocked me off a bit,” said Orr as his lead was cut to two before another bogey on the 14th reduced his margin to just a shot.

Streeter leaked his first shot since the fifth when he made bogey at the 16th to give Orr a two stroke lead again but the Scotsman’s own bogey on the next ensured a nail-nibbling finale.

Englishman Streeter went on the offensive with a fine approach into 18 to set up an eagle chance but his effort to jump ahead from 10-feet rolled by. Orr kept his cool and holed his birdie putt with nerveless authority. It was a hard-earned win.